When Della and I moved to South Bend, one of our fears was that our cat, Little Bit, might one day be consumed by the forest behind our house. In the last 3 days, it appears our fears have been realized.
Our other cat, Dylan, is a homebody, never exploring beyond a stone's throw from the house and yard. Even if you can't see him, all we have to do is call his name and he's right there. Little Bit, on the other hand, roams far from home. He's been spotted before several blocks over towards town and down by the pond in the ravine behind our house.
While Dylan always seems under foot, Little Bit can be gone for nearly a day -- out cavorting with the natural world. Most days, however, he comes home for snuggle time.
He hasn't been home since early Sunday morning and we've gone out to look for him with no signs of him being anywhere around. We've called and called, but our little one-eyed kitty has not made an appearance. We've checked with the area vets -- there is no "animal control" in north Pacific County -- and no one has turned him in as a stray cat.
The only solace I can take, if he has indeed died, is that he did so in tune with his internal nature. If he met his end as a meal for a coyote, bobcat, raccoon, bear, cougar, hawk or owl in the forest beyond, he met his end in the place he felt most at home.
As I sit here reminiscing about our kitty boy, the song, "She's Gone" by Hall & Oates keeps playing in my head. Change the she to a he and you capture a sense of Della's and my sadness.
Our other cat, Dylan, is a homebody, never exploring beyond a stone's throw from the house and yard. Even if you can't see him, all we have to do is call his name and he's right there. Little Bit, on the other hand, roams far from home. He's been spotted before several blocks over towards town and down by the pond in the ravine behind our house.
While Dylan always seems under foot, Little Bit can be gone for nearly a day -- out cavorting with the natural world. Most days, however, he comes home for snuggle time.
He hasn't been home since early Sunday morning and we've gone out to look for him with no signs of him being anywhere around. We've called and called, but our little one-eyed kitty has not made an appearance. We've checked with the area vets -- there is no "animal control" in north Pacific County -- and no one has turned him in as a stray cat.
The only solace I can take, if he has indeed died, is that he did so in tune with his internal nature. If he met his end as a meal for a coyote, bobcat, raccoon, bear, cougar, hawk or owl in the forest beyond, he met his end in the place he felt most at home.
As I sit here reminiscing about our kitty boy, the song, "She's Gone" by Hall & Oates keeps playing in my head. Change the she to a he and you capture a sense of Della's and my sadness.
I'm sorry to hear this. When liviing in the country with four cats, one little silver tabby female disappeared for a couple of weeks. Then she suddenly reappeared in my kitchen one morning for a visit, seemed to say goodbye, left and never came back. I think she moved to another home.
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